Israel expands war arsenal to deal with Iranian nuclear threat

AP ^ | Dec 8 2005 | Steven Gutkin

[jmc1969]

Israel is expanding its military arsenal to deal with what it views as the greatest threat to its existence: a nuclear attack by Iran.

It has acquired dozens of warplanes with long-range fuel tanks to allow them to reach Iran and signed a deal with Germany for two submarines reportedly capable of firing nuclear missiles.

Such a mission would be far more complicated than the 1981 Israeli raid that destroyed an unfinished Iraqi nuclear reactor. It would require heavy precision bombs that can blast through underground bunkers, manned aircraft to bombard multiple targets and possibly ground commandos to make sure weapons materials are destroyed, experts say.

"It's not a target that you can find on the map, send two F15s and solve it," said Itamar Yaar, deputy head of Israel's National Security Council.

Both the United States and Israel refuse to say whether a strike plan is in the works.

[Nipplemancer]

these reporters are just silly. why would the US and Israel announce their plans to destroy Iran's nuclear capabilities? They treat it as if it were a crime to keep plans secret or something.

[Slings and Arrows]

[RTINSC]

The best defense is a strong pre-emptive strike..

[MJY1288]

The Iranian Regime will fall faster than a French Soldiers Rifle when the shiite hits the fan. The Mullahs in Iran do not have the support of the 16 to 30 year olds in that pathetic Islamofacist hell hole

[cvq3842]

It seems a lot of reporters are still in the "Watergate" mode of "revealing secrets." Yes, we need a press that questions and investigates, but with respect to threats to national security, and our response to that threat, they need to tread very carefully. Some reporters would probably reveal the D-Day plans if they were around back then!

As for Iran, I am very concerned. The Iranian leader is many horrible things, but credit him for telling us honestly what he thinks - that Israel has no right to exist. I'd almost rather think that he is just mouthing off for public consumption or somehow trying for some bargaining position with the world. But it's quite possible that he's a "true believer" fanatic who would risk destroying much of his own nation and the region to get rid of Israel. And of course Israel can't take that risk.

If there is something I don't know about the situation that makes this post needlessly alarmist, I'd be happy to be corrected. Thanks in advance, anyone!

[JohnBovenmyer]

He said Iran would most likely retaliate by making "life miserable for the United States in Iraq" and launch attacks against Israel through proxies such as Lebanon's Hezbollah guerrillas.

They'd retaliate by continuing to do what they're already doing? Not much of a downside to attacking them then.

[TomasUSMC]

Iran would most likely retaliate by making "life miserable for the United States in Iraq" and launch attacks against Israel through proxies such as Lebanon's Hezbollah guerrillas.
They'd retaliate by continuing to do what they're already doing? Not much of a downside to attacking them then.

---

My question is why isn't our President Bush doing something, anything against Iran and Syria for that matter, in the face of their continued blatant support for the terrorists that are killing our troops every stinking day?

[jackson29]

dude

can you xplain the need for surgical strikes when iran is playing on antoher field... nuclear strikes with total annihlation which is hardly surgical?

is israel after some sort of award for civility in the face of total annihlation?

[RTINSC]

Are you suggesting Israel should wait for Iran to nuke them before taking action, dude? What other field is Iran playing on, dude?

[familyop]

Our US Government needs to get some clean, safe nuclear bunker buster production going, so that nuclear cratering devices won't be necessary.

[Nam Vet]

They'd retaliate by continuing to do what they're already doing? Not much of a downside to attacking them then

That is my sentiment EXACTLY. Hit 'em and hit 'em hard.

Nam Vet

[Cougar66]

Seems to me Iran is just BEGGING for it.

[jeltz25]

I think he's asking why Israel is only talking about surgical strikes when Iran is threatening total destruction. IOW, why is Israel only talking about a small operation. They too should respond with total annihilation. That's the different field they're on. He thinks they should take action, and it should be total not some small precision strike at some plant somewhere.

[RTINSC]

Iran doesn't have the bomb or delivery method at present. Soon, maybe, but not now. Israel will not let them get to the point where they have the capability to launch nukes at Israel. Israel will not launch nukes at Iran unless Iran has them ready to fly.

[Brian Allen]

<< Seems to me Iran is just BEGGING for it. >>

Since 1979 the manifestation of evil that is called Iran has begged for it.

Unfortunately when its forces, in an overt and blatant act of war, over-ran our Teheran Embassy, the same manifestation's representative was already occupying our Washington White House.

[Great tag line!]

[ozoneliar]

Some reporters would probably reveal the D-Day plans if they were around back then!

Truer words have never been spoken!

[Convert from ECUSA]

Ping!

[jackson29]

dude, hippotheticaly speaking if Iran sere to attempt to wipe little innocent israel off the map, they would indiscriminately nuke israel. with zero concern for loss of life nor collateral damage. their objective, imo, would be total annihlation. thus they are playing on a different plane, with different rules.

so that is why I ask of the author and of israel.... why consider"surgical" removal. why not play by the same rules as the opposition?

[rahbert]

It should be remembered that the Germans lost 27000 dead
during the battle for France in 1940, the French lost 100000
dead combatants.

Thats on top of the slaughter of WWI. French troops have nothing to prove in terms of bravery.

I don't think the Israelis are counting on the Persians
tossing the towel as readily as you suggest. Their losses
in 1973 battles taught them not to underestimate their
enemies.